In the middle of the night, Usopp, Luffy, Aya, Nami and Zoro were at the rocky slope as the long nosed man told them of his plan.
"Okay, at daybreak, the pirates will be landing at this shore to begin their attack. But, the only way to get to the village is to go up this slope. The rest of the shoreline is sheer cliffs, so they'll have to come through here. If we can fight them while they're funneling through that narrow path, then their numbers won't mean anything and the village will be protected." explained Usopp.
"Alright, sounds pretty easy." said Luffy.
"Talking about it is, but it really depends on our strength. What is it you guys can do?" asked Usopp.
"I cut." said Zoro.
"I stretch." said Luffy
"I steal." said Nami.
"I plan." said Aya.
"I hide." said Usopp.
"YOU'RE JOINING IN ON THIS FIGHT!" yelled all four of them.
"I was just joking. Calm down!" said Usopp.
In Kaya's mansion, the sound of the grandfather clock echoed in the hallways. In a room, Merry was dusting and cleaning until he heard the doors open and saw Klahadore walk in. "Ah, Klahadore welcome back." He greeted the butler as he was standing on the ladder, polishing the chandelier. He had told the butler everything that Usopp had said and what he had done to Kaya and the villagers.
"How is she?" asked Klahadore, worried.
"She's resting right now. She was quite exhausted." said Merry as Klahadore walked to the window, untying his tie. Klahadore sighed.
"Now, I have to pick up the pieces. That Usopp certainly know how to cause trouble, doesn't he?" He said.
"Yes, and on top of everything else he's done today. He claims that you were a pirate." Merry chuckled. "I can't think of more an outrageous lie!" Klahadore snickered as he stared at his reflection in the window.
"Indeed..." He sneered then he noticed that there was a box sitting on the table that was wrapped. "What's this here?" asked Klahadore as he picked it up.
"Why that's a present, of course, from Miss Kaya to you, Klahadore. It's been three years since you've came to this mansion. And this gift is to say thank you for your hard work. It's a commemoration of some sort!" said Merry.
"How nice..." Klahadore murmured.
"The glasses that you're wearing are always slipping and you have to push them back up. So the lady of the house custom ordered a new pair for you. It's she just the most thoughtful young woman that you've ever met!" said Merry. Klahadore opened the present seeing the new glasses that were made for him. He smirked and chuckled darkly, pushing up his glasses.
"How appropriate, tomorrow will be a day worth, commemorating." He said as he looked up at the moon.
"Huh?" asked Merry, confused.
"It's a crescent moon tonight. It's on nights like these that I feel alive. My heart races and my blood boils in my veins." said Klahadore. Smash! Merry gasped in horror as he saw Klahadore threw the box on the floor and stepped on the glasses, breaking it.
"Klahadore, what are you doing?! Why would you do such a thing to Miss Kaya's present?!" exclaimed Merry.
"Oh, I'll be receiving a gift alright, but it won't be glasses." said Klahadore. The butler turned to Merry with a scary look on his face. "It'll be her entire estate!"
"What are you saying?!" gasped Merry in shock.
"I suppose there's no reason to carry on the act any longer. In a few hours the village will be more than an unforeseen travesty. You won't live long to see it." said Klahadore as he began to advance slowly towards Merry. The butler pulled out a fur glove with five long blades.
"MY LADY! YOU HAVE TO-!" Merry tried to scream but Klahadore slashed him on his chest with his five blade claws. Merry fell to the floor as blood began to seep from his wound and onto the floor. Klahadore stared down at him with a look of glee etched upon his face.
On the rocky slope, Usopp, Luffy, Aya, Nami and Zoro had covered it completely with oil. As the last jug was emptied, Usopp smirked, proudly of his work.
"Yep, I'm a genius. There's no way that they'll be able to make it up this slope now. All this oil should keep them occupied, while we get to work on 'em. They're going to be so busy slipping and sliding in their feets, while we show up and beat the crap out of them!" He said.
"Wow, so that's your plan, huh?" asked Aya.
"That's right, I'm going to defend the village no matter what it takes!" said Usopp.
"I just hope that none of us slip on that oil or we'll end up down there with them." said Nami. "Because that will be like riding into a meat grinder." Usopp cringed
"Usopp, I got to hand it to you. You're pretty good at fighting dirty." said Luffy, smiling.
"Of course I am! There isn't anyone alive who can best me with a slingshot
"It's almost daybreak. They're coming." Muttered Zoro.
The group waited until the sun began to rise. However, no one had spotted anyone or any ships arriving.
"Where are they? I've been looking to fight!" Whined Luffy. "The sun's up, what's the deal?"
"Maybe, they overslept?" asked Zoro.
"No. They're going to show up alright, lots of them." said Usopp as he nodded. Suddenly, Nami heard something and she covered her ears, listening.
"Wait a minute, maybe I'm hearing things, but sounds like battle cries from somewhere." She said. "Yeah, I definitely hear them." Everyone stayed quiet and soon enough they also heard loud cries and shouts further off.
"Uh, Usopp, there isn't another way to get to a village, is there?" asked Aya, nervously. Usopp's eyes widen in shock in realization as he began to panic.
"No, it can't be..." He murmured.
"What is it?" asked Zoro.
"There's a shore just like this to the north!" explained Usopp.
"We're at the wrong shore?! That's not good!" shouted Luffy.
"This is where they had their secret meeting, so I just assumed, okay!" shouted Usopp as he began to panic more.
"Then we need to go, now!" shouted Aya.
"Yeah, before they make it to the village. Where is it?!" asked Luffy.
"You have to run directly north from here. If you hurry, you can make it in three minutes! The terrain there is almost exactly the same. So all we need to do is stop them at the slopes!" explained Usopp.
"Don't you worry, we're going to stop them!" said Aya. Suddenly, Nami screamed. Everyone jumped, completely startled, and looked at her.
"OH NO!" She screamed. "IF THOSE FILTHY PIRATES ARE AT THE NORTH SHORE, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO SEE OUR BOAT! THEN THEY'LL TAKE THE TREASURE!" Aya frowned and shrugged.
"So, who cares? You can get more." She said.
"I CARE!" screamed Nami, angrily.
"Alright, I'll be there in 20 seconds!" said Luffy as he runs off. Aya chased after him.
"Oh man, my brilliant plan was all for nothing!" shouted Usopp, disappointed and he chased after the twins leaving Nami and Zoro.
"My precious treasure..." whined Nami in horror.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let's get out of here." said Zoro breaking Nami out of her thoughts.
"Yeah-!" As soon she took a step, Nami slipped on the oil. She fell down and grabbed onto Zoro's foot taking him with her. "Help, I'm going to fall!" Zoro was now slipping on the oil as well.
"Let go, you moron!" He growled. Zoro tried to climb up but only to slope further down. Then Nami smirked as an idea began to form. She grabbed onto Zoro's sword sheaths and climbed on top of him then leaped off, landing safely in the ground, leaving Zoro on the oil covered slope as he slid further down.
"See you there!" She winked sticking her tongue out at the swordsman.
"Nami, you witch!" growled Zoro, angrily.
"Sorry, but you'll understand. The treasure's in danger!" Shouted Nami as she ran off.
"That girl's going to pay!" growled Zoro as he grinded his teeth together, seething in rage.
Usopp ran as fast as his feet could carry him. He felt his lungs begin to ache as tried to breathe. But, he couldn't stop now, not when the villagers and Kaya and everyone that he knew and loved was in danger. "I swear on my life that they'll never set foot in this village." Usopp looked up ahead of him but he could see Luffy or Aya anywhere as he had lost track of them. "Man, those two sure are good runners. I can't even see them anymore!"
"Run straight north! Run straight north!" shouted Luffy to himself as he ran. He looked behind him but saw that Aya was not with him. "Great, I'm completely lost. And now I lost Aya as well! Damn it! Which way is north!?" shouted the straw hat captain as he continues to run.
"Those pirates are in big trouble if they take even one look at my treasure!" shouted Nami as she ran as well.
The Black Cat Pirates had made it to the shore as they all let out loud roar and battle cry as they all charges up the slope. Suddenly, several pellets shot out came out of nowhere and hit the pirates. One by one, they were knocked back as they fell to the ground groaning in pain.
"It's an ambush! Somebody's up there!" One of them yelled. Jango growled, annoyed, as to who would dare to face against the Black Cat Pirates. He and rest of the crew looked up at the top of the slope, seeing a long nosed man, it was Usopp.
"We meet again." said Jango, irritated. Usopp breathed heavily as he panted trying to catch his breath while still aiming his slingshot at the pirates. He gulped the screamed at the top of his lungs.
"I am the mighty Captain Usopp!" He shouted. "I've been waiting for you! All my men and I are ready to fight to the death. Then back now, if you value your lives!" His entire body was shaking like a leaf as he stared down nervously at the angry horde of pirates below him as they glared at him.
"Damn. I wasn't supposed to be the first one here! They were running way ahead of me. I can't face these guys alone!"
Zoro was still struggling as he tried to climb out of the oil but slide back down.
"Damn! Blast this stuff!" He growled, irritated, as he tried to run but he got nowhere as he was running in the same spot.
"The village? That can't be right. He said that if I run North then I should be at the shore." murmured Luffy, confused, as he stared at the village in front of him.
Jango frowned as he looked at Usopp. Usopp gulped nervously as his body was shaking, terrified, looking at the bloodthirsty pirates below him.
"It's you, I remember. You're one of those troublesome brats who overheard our plan. What do you think you're doing?" asked Jango in a mocking tone.
"I'm warning you! Leave here while you still can! If you don't, then my one hundred billion crew men will massacre all of you!" shouted Usopp . The pirates gave him an skeptical look in disbelief.
"One hundred million?" Questioned one.
"Are we really supposed to believe that." growled another, angrily.
"No way ! One hundred million?! Incredible!" exclaimed Jango.
"Captain, he's obviously lying." said a pirate.
"They saw through it!" Usopp cursed under his breath.
"What's that? You've been lying to us this whole time?!" shouted Jango, angrily.
"Captain Jango, take a look at this!" shouted one of the pirates as they called out.
"Is it bad?" asked Jango. The pirates pointed towards the two small ships.
"No sir, it's good. We searched the those ships and found a huge ton of treasure! It's hard to say how much, but I bet it's around five million berries!" He said as a crew mate was holding a sack filled with treasure. Everyone gasped in shock.
"F-Five million berries?! How in the world did those guys get a hold of such much treasure?" asked Usopp, surprised. Then an idea was forming in his head. He smirked. "I see you've found my loot! Well, you can have it!"
"You're just going to let us take it?"
"That's right! Just turn around and forget all about this place and the treasure is yours!" He yelled as all the pirates turned to him.
"I didn't think people this stupid actually existed." said one.
"He's just embarrassing himself." said another. Jango tilted his hat, getting more annoyed.
"Okay, so you know what a pirate is? We're going to take this treasure and there's nothing that you can do about it. And there is no way that we're turning back until we get what we've came for." He said.
"W-Well, yeah, that makes sense." stammered Us opp nervously. Then Jango pulled out his ring and began to swing it side to side.
"Alright then, on the count of one, two, Jango, you're going to let us by." He said. Usopp gasped as he saw it. "It's that strange weapon from before!" Suddenly, Usopp couldn't help but watch as he stared at the ring as it swung left and right. He felt his feet completely glued to the spot.
"One, two,-" Jango counted.
"Get down!" a voice shouted. Usopp felt a sharp smack on the back of his head as someone pushed him down.
"My head!" He whined as he held his head in pain.
"Oi! Who are these two?!" shouted one of the pirates. Usopp groaned as he looked up to see Nami and Aya.
"This isn't the time to be hypnotizing yourself. We've got a mission to carry out remember!?" shouted Aya.
Nami glared at the pirates. "That treasure is mine! And I'm not going to let you have a single beri, you hear me?! If fact you better clear out now or things are going to get bad!" She screamed, angrily, threatening them.
"Damn it, Nami. That's really hurt!" yelled Usopp. Nami looked at Usopp.
"Who said that you can give them my treasure?! You got what you deserved!" She shouted at him.
"I didn't give them the treasure, I just said that I would give it to them!" shouted Usopp. Nami rested her staff on her shoulder.
"That's the same thing and I just saved your life." She said, calmly. "I forgot to mention it earlier, but don't ever watch his ring that he's using. That weirdo is a hypnotist."
"Damn." Jango cursed under his breath.
"H-Hypnotist?" asked Usopp.
"So where's Luffy? He took off so fast, I figured that he'd be ahead of you!" asked Nami.
"I don't know. He either got lost or chickened out at the last minute." said Usopp as he got up.
"The only thing that can keep him from a fight is getting lost." Nami sighed. Usopp made his way up the slope to the two girls.
"I'm going to let you take command here. It's about time that you kick their butts." He said as He placed his hand on Nami's shoulder. She looked at him a look in disbelief.
"Yeah, lead the way, Nami." Aya smirked, crossing her arms. Nami frowned then looked back at Usopp.
"What?! What about you?" She shouted. "I can't take on a bunch of vicious pirates by myself, that's just suicide!"
"I'm a coward." He said as he pointed to his legs that were shaking.
"You think you're scared? What about me?!" exclaimed Nami.
"Don't yell at him!" Aya scolded. Usopp looked over Nami's shoulder at Aya. He felt his heart flutter, happy that she was helping him.
"He's already terrified as it is. You're not helping." Aya finished.
"Excuse me?!" said Usopp, feeling a little insulted. Nami ignored him and she turned to Aya.
"And what about you?! I don't see you jumping in. I saw the way you fight, you can take out these pirates no problem. How about you fight them?!" Aya laughed as she threw her hands in the air in defense.
"Hey, I'm strong, but not that strong. I can't fight all those pirates by myself." said Aya, shrugging her hands.
"You liar! You can so! Now get down there and kick their butts!" shouted Nami, grabbing Aya by the shoulders as she struggled to push her down the slope.
"How about you fight them?" asked Aya. She didn't move an inch while Nami tried to get her to budge. Nami sighed in frustration until an idea popped in her mind. She smirked.
"If I can't get through to her. Then I'll just mess with her ego! Hit her where it hurts!" thought Nami to herself.
"Oh I see, you're too scared to fight them." said Nami as she shrugged her hands. Aya frowned as she narrowed her eyes at her.
"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you right." said Aya.
"I don't blame you one bit. I would be scared going against blood thirsty pirates as well. " said Nami.
"Then how about you fight them then, you chicken." said Aya. "Prove to me that you have what it takes to be a pirate! To be a member of my brother's crew!" Nami twitched as she growled, angrily. "I already told you. I'll never be a pirate!"
Aya clucked as she flapped her arms like wings, mockingly.
"I beg to differ, chicken!" She said in a taunting tone of voice. Nami and Aya glared at each other as they got into each other's face.
"Uh, guys? The pirates?" stammered Usopp. He tried to get the two girls to stop arguing, who were literally butting heads with each other. The two of them quickly turned their heads looking at him with a scary look on their faces.
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!" shouted the two of them. Usopp cringed. The Black Cat Pirates watched the whole feud with interest, some of them whistled while others cat called.
"Cat fight!" Cheered one of them while some of them whistled and cat called until Jango interrupted.
"We don't have time for this nonsense." He said, annoyed. "Alright, let's get to work!" He commanded . The pirates roared and began to charge up the slope towards the three.
"Here, they come!" shouted Nami as she tensed up seeing the pirates getting closer. Then Usopp had an idea.
"Wait, I know!" He shouted. Then Usopp reached into his knapsack and pulled out some metal spikes and handed them to Aya and Nami.
Back at the other slope, Zoro was still trying to get out of the oil and was completely covered in it. He panted as he tried to catch his breath. "Nami, if you're still alive when I get out of here, I'm going to kill you!" He shouted in frustration. Then an idea came to his mind. Zoro used two of his swords and stabbed them into the ground as he began to climb. Finally, as he reached the top of the slope, he made it out of the slippery mess. Without wasting any time, Zoro immediately took off running.
"Now, where do I get to the north shore from here?" He grumbled to himself as he ran.
"Run straight north! Run straight north!" screamed Luffy as he ran blindly into the deep forest, He looked around wildly at his surroundings. He was completely lost.
"Which way is north?!" He shouted.
Back at the north shore, Usopp, Nami and Aya watched as the Black Cat Pirates howled in pain as they stepped on the metal spikes that were thrown all over the slope.
"Yes! We've got 'em!" Nami cheered.
"Check this out." said Usopp. He pulled out his slingshot and aimed it at the pirates and fired. With accurate precision, one of the pellets hit one of the pirates in the head.
"You bastard!" shouted one. Nami patted Usopp on the back.
"Way to go! You're quite the warrior after all!" She said. "It looks like you've got this handled, so I'll just take a break."
"Where do you think you're going?!" shouted Aya .
"But, you haven't done anything, yet?!" shouted Usopp. Nami screamed.
"What is it?" asked Usopp as he and Aya turned to see why the orange haired girl screamed.
"There are caltraps behind us." said Nami, sheepishly. Usopp jaw dropped. Aya had a look in disbelief. The two of them saw that the traps were laid behind them as well.
"IDIOT! You dropped those things behind us?!" shouted Usopp. Then Nami saw a pirates came up behind Usopp and Aya with a sledge hammer.
"Get out of the way!" She screamed as she tried to warn them. Aya's eyes widen and she quickly moved out of the way only to see the hammer swing down and hit Usopp as it made contact with his head. Usopp felt his ears ring and his vision became blurry as blood flowed from his head and mouth as he crashed to the ground with a thud.
"Usopp!" cried Aya.
The pirate smirked darkly and Nami and Aya gasped in horror.
"Don't tell me that you really thought that you're going to stop us down there?" said the pirate. "Let's go, fellas. Captain Kuro's waiting!" Then the pirate felt something grab onto his foot. He looked down and saw that it was Usopp.
"You again? Let go of me, you jackass!" said the pirate. "You want some more?!" He tried to shake Usopp off of him but he still latched on refusing to let go.
"I won't ever...let you step foot in that village!" Usopp panted as he tried to stand up. Blood ran down his face as he glared at the pirate. "All I did was lie, like I always do. Today, won't be like any other day in that sleepy little town, cause you and your crew will never set foot in it!"
"Shut up! I won't tell you again!" shouted another pirate as they charged at Usopp with a sword. As he was about to bring it down on Usopp a foot connected with the pirate's face, kicking him back. Usopp looked up and saw that it was Aya as she landed on the ground on her feet. He saw that she had a scary look on her face which sends shivers down his spine.
"COME AT ME, YOU COWARDS! I'LL KICK ALL YOUR ASSES RIGHT INTO DAVY JONES' LOCKER!" She roared out. A pirate charged at Aya from behind but she throw her fist back and punched him in the face.
Another pirate came at Nami with a sword and she tried to block it with her staff but she was pushed back. Nami fell to the ground. She grunted in pain as she felt the hard ground connected with her back.
"Nami!" Shouted Aya as she tried to dodge a swing from the pirate that was wielding the hammer.
"I would be more worried about myself, right now!" shouted a pirate as he and another pirate who came out of no where, catching Aya off guard. They charged at her from behind.
Aya's eyes widen as she felt herself being pushed back and she collided with side of the slope. She groaned in pain then looked up and glared up at the pirates who was smirking darkly at her. Then she began coughing violently, covering her mouth with her hand as she did. As she pulled her hand away, Aya saw a small amount of blood.
"Damn it..." She cursed under her breath, still coughing.
"Aya!" Usopp called out to her, worried.
Suddenly, the pirate with the hammer slammed his weapon down on Usopp again knocking him to the ground. His face connected with the ground as he did. The pirates laughed until Jango silenced them as he spoke.
"We've wasted enough time, playing pirates! Quit bothering with them and move to the village!" He shouted. "Or have you've forgotten that this is Captain Kuro's operation? He doesn't look favorably on anyone's who's late, especially a bunch of idiots! Do you understand?!"
The crew shuddered at the thought. They quickly charged up the slope heading towards the village.
"Don't go any further..." said Usopp as he tried to stop a pirate as he grabbed onto them. "I said stop! Don't take another step!"
"Get off me!" shouted the pirate. He kicked Usopp off of him, knocking the man back onto the ground.
"Don't kill them! Just leave this village alone! They're good people, they don't deserve this! I love them!" thought Usopp to himself. Tears began to fall from his eyes running down his cheeks.
Suddenly, the pirates were knocked back as they flew, falling down the slope. Usopp gawked at the sight of it. Jango and Nami had a look of surprise as well wondering who could have done such a thing. Aya looked then smirked at who she saw, Luffy and Zoro.
"What took you guys so long?" She asked.
"W-What is this, Captain Jango?!" shouted a pirate.
"Nobody told us that killers like those are going to be here!" shouted another. Jango had a look of fury and irritation on his face.
"It's about time!" mumbled Nami.
"Is that the best that those pirates can dish out?" asked Zoro as he looked down at the Black Cat Pirates who were laid out at the bottom of the slope with a disappointed look on his face.
"Yeah, I was hoping for a challenge." said Luffy disappointed as well, as he stretched his arm.
"And you! After leaving me down there, you're lucky that I go after you too!" growled Zoro as he glared at Nami. Then Zoro drifted his gaze over to Aya. He frowned as he saw her coughing violently. "Damn, she's having an attack." thought Zoro to himself.
"You just going to sit there or what?" said Zoro in a mocking tone of voice. "I thought that you were better than this." Aya blushed feeling embarrassed. Luffy tilted his head seeing Aya.
"What are you doing sitting on the ground? Why are you getting your ass kicked around by these guys?" He asked. He noticed her coughing and his eyes widen in worry. "ARE YOU SICK?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!" He shouted.
"Shut up! I'm fine." She shouted as she coughed. "It's just dust. You know what it does to me."
"Oh, okay! Well, hurry up and get over here already!" shouted Luffy as he smiled. Zoro raised an eye brow at Luffy giving him a look in disbelief. "So he really doesn't know..." He thought to himself.
Then Aya reached into her pocket and pulls out her medicine, taking it. She stood up and brushed herself off.
"Usopp, you big bonehead! You never told me which direction is north!" shouted Luffy, angrily, as he glared at Usopp. Jango stared at the two with a skeptical look.
"Who are these guys?" He asked.
Outside of Kaya's mansion Klahadore was sitting on the stairs waiting. He growled in frustration wondering what was taking so long then stood up and grabbed his bag and walked off heading towards the North shore.
However, Onion was watching nearby as he his behind a tree seeing the butler.
"It looks like the butler from Kaya's mansion. But, it's so early in the morning, why is he walking to the shore?" He asked himself. He frowned in suspicion as he saw the butler walking off.
